Biography

Pettigrew is a big, athletic tight end who has the ability to stretch the field as a receiver and aggressively block at the line of scrimmage. Has emerged as one of the best young tight ends in the game and re-signed with the Lions to a four-year contract in 2014.

TRANSACTIONS

Re-signed by the Lions as an unrestricted free agent to a four-year contract on March 14, 2014.

Placed on Reserve/Injured by the Lions on December 25, 2013.

Placed on Reserve/Injured by the Lions on December 1, 2009.

Drafted by the Detroit Lions in the first round (20th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft.

PRO Pettigrew is a big, athletic tight end who has the ability to stretch the field as a receiver and aggressively block at the line of scrimmage. Has emerged as one of the best young tight ends in the game and re-signed with the Lions to a four-year contract in 2014.

Ranks first and second in team history for receptions (83 in 2011; 71 in 2010) and receiving yards (777 in 2011 and 722 in 2010) by a tight end in a season. First tight end with two seasons recording 70+ receptions and two seasons with 700+ receiving yards. He accomplished this in back-to-back seasons.

With 67 receiving yards vs. Minnesota in 2012 (9/30), he passed TE David Sloan (2,024) for fourth on the Lions career receiving yards list for tight ends.

Only tight end in Lions history with three 100-yard receiving games, including two in 2011.

Reached 100 career receptions the fastest by a Lions tight end by doing so in 27 games. The previous mark was 34 games by TE Jim Gibbons.

Also reached 1,000 career yards in 26 career games, the second fastest tight end in team history to reach that milestone. Hall of Fame TE Charlie Sanders reached 1,000 career yards in 25 games.

Fifth tight end in team history to register 100 career catches and 1,000 career yards.

Started in the first 11 games of his career before a knee injury on Thanksgiving Day vs. Green Bay (11/26/09) forced him out for the remainder of his rookie season.

Led all NFL rookie tight ends in 2009 with 30 catches for 346 yards, and was tied for the most receiving touchdowns (two).

2014: A pivotal piece to the Lions’ run and pass blocking games, Pettigrew finished the 2014 season with 10 receptions for 70 yards and was instrumental in the development of rookie TE Eric Ebron.

Caught one ball for nine yards in the season opener vs. the New York Giants (9/8).

Had two receptions for 19 yards in Week 4 at New York Jets (9/28).

Caught two passes for 12 yards in Week 5 vs. Buffalo (10/5).

Had four catches for 28 yards in Week 7 vs. New Orleans (10/19).

Inactive in Week 8 at Atlanta (10/26).

Inactive in Week 11 at Arizona (11/16).

Caught one pass for two yards in Week 13 vs. Chicago (11/27).

Hauled in one reception for 11 yards in the NFC Wild Card game at Dallas (1/4).

2013: Starting in all 14 games he played in, Pettigrew finished the season with 41 receptions for 416 yards (10.1 avg) and two touchdowns. He reached 284 receptions for his career and became just the third tight end in team history to register 250 career receptions (Hall of Fame TE Charlie Sanders, 336 and TE Jim Gibbons, 287).

Recorded two receptions for six yards in Week 1 vs. Minnesota (9/8).

With three receptions for 32 yards in Week 2 at Arizona (9/15), moved past TE David Hill (245) for fourth on the franchise’s all-time career receptions list by tight ends.

Led the Lions in catches with seven for 54 yards in Week 4 vs. Chicago (9/29). Pettigrew (269 receptions for 2,637 yards after Week 4) became the third tight end in team history to register 250 career receptions and the fourth tight end in Lions history to record 2,500 career yards.

Tied a team-high with four receptions that went for a team-high 59 yards in Week 5 at Green Bay (10/6).

Caught four passes for 36 yards in Week 6 at Cleveland (10/13).

Recorded three receptions for seven yards and his first touchdown of the season in Week 7 vs. Cincinnati (10/20).

Had three catches for 37 yards, including a long of 31 in Week 11 at Pittsburgh (11/17).

Recorded three receptions for 32 yards and one touchdown in Week 12 vs. Tampa Bay (11/24).

Caught one pass for six yards in Week 13 vs. Green Bay (11/28).

Recorded one reception for 23 yards in Week 14 at Philadelphia (12/8).

Caught two passes for 23 yards in Week 15 vs. Baltimore (12/16).

Inactive in Week 16 vs. New York Giants (12/22).

Placed on Reserve/Injured on December 25, 2013.

2012: Pettigrew followed up his stellar 2011 season with 59 receptions for 567 yards and three touchdowns in 2012, finishing second on the team in receptions and receiving yards. The fourth-year tight end set the tone early in the season when he caught passes of 20, 18 and 24 yards in the Lions’ game-winning drive against the St. Louis Rams in Week 1 (9/9), combining for 62 of the team’s 80 yards on the drive.

Caught three passes for 18 yards and a touchdown in the Lions’ 19-27 loss at San Francisco (9/16) in Week 2.

Surpassed over 2,000 receiving yards for his career with an eight-catch, 61-yard performance in Week 3 at Tennessee (9/23), putting him at 2,001 career receiving yards.

Finished with three catches for 38 yards, his longest going for 16 yards, in Week 6 at Philadelphia (10/14).

Caught five passes for 37 yards, his longest going for 13 yards, in Week 7 at Chicago (10/22).

Finished second on the team in receiving with seven catches for 74 yards in the Lions’ 28-24 win vs. Seattle in Week 8. Pettigrew and TE Tony Scheffler combined for 11 catches in the game for 120 yards and played a key part in the offense’s success after losing WR Nate Burleson to injury.

Caught one pass for 11 yards in the Lions’ 31-14 win at Jacksonville in Week 9 (11/4).

Caught his second touchdown of the season on a 16-yard strike from QB Matthew Stafford and finished the game with three catches for 32 yards in Week 10 at Minnesota (11/11).

Finished second on the team in receptions with four catches in Week 11 vs. Green Bay (11/18) for a total of 22 yards.

Caught his third touchdown pass of the season on a 16-yard pass from QB Matthew Stafford and finished with three catches for 43 yards in Week 13 vs. Indianapolis (12/2).

Left the game in Week 14 at Green Bay (12/9) with an ankle injury.

Inactive in Week 15 at Arizona (12/16) with an ankle injury.

Inactive in Week 16 vs. Atlanta (12/22) with an ankle injury.

2011: Finished second on the team with 83 receptions, setting a new Lions record for most catches by a tight end. Broke his own record of 71 set in 2010, and his 777 yards are also a single-season record for Lions tight ends. Also added five touchdowns.

Pettigrew’s 83 receptions ranked third among tight ends in the NFL and he was 11th in receiving yards (777).

Came up with a big performance in the Lions’ 26-23 overtime win at Minnesota (9/25) by contributing 11 catches for 112 yards, both career-highs at the time. After halftime, Pettigrew had nine receptions for 88 yards. His 112 receiving yards marked his second-career 100-yard receiving game. Pettigrew joins Hall of Fame TE Charlie Sanders (2, 1968-77) and TE Jim Gibbons (2, 1958-68) as the only tight ends in Lions history with 2 100-yard receiving games.

Pettigrew’s 11 catches set a new team record for receptions by a Lions tight end in a single game. It was only the second time in Lions history that a tight end registered 10+ catches in a game. Previously, Sanders had 10 catches at Washington December 15, 1968.

Had six receptions for 62 yards at Dallas (10/2) in the Lions’ 34-30 come-from-behind (24-point deficit) win.

Caught first touchdown of the season on an 18-yard pass in the third quarter during the Lions’ 24-14 win over Chicago (10/10). The score gave the Lions a 14-10 lead in the game, which they would never surrender the rest of the way. He finished the game with four catches for 39 yards.

Recorded his second touchdown of the season on a 16-yard pass from QB Matthew Stafford vs. San Francisco (10/16). Finished as the team’s leader in receptions with eight for 42 yards.

Scored his third touchdown of the season in the fourth quarter of the Lions’ 49-35 victory vs. Carolina (11/20). He connected with QB Matthew Stafford on a 3rd-and-goal from the seven-yard line. For the game, Pettigrew had four catches for 37 yards.

Had six catches for 57 yards and a touchdown vs. Minnesota (12/11). In two games vs. Minnesota in 2011, Pettigrew caught 17 receptions for 169 yards.

On his fourth reception of the game to end the first quarter vs. Minnesota (12/11), he moved his season totals to 60. He became the first tight end in Lions history to record 60 receptions in two different seasons (71 in 2010).

Had a team-high nine catches for 80 yards and a touchdown vs. San Diego (12/24), his fifth of the season.

With five touchdown catches this season combined with TE Tony Scheffler’s five touchdown receptions, Pettigrew and Scheffler became the second pair of Lions tight ends in team history to each register five touchdown catches each in a season. In 1976, Hall of Fame TE Charlie Sanders and TE David Hill each recorded five touchdown receptions that season.

Registered a career-high 116 yards off seven receptions in 2011 season finale at Green Bay (1/2). It was his third 100-yard game of his career and second of the season.

In his first career playoff game, Pettigrew recorded 4 catches for 49 yards at New Orleans (1/7/12).

2010: Team’s starting tight end. Had one of the best seasons in team history by a tight end, setting franchise single-season records at the time for receptions (71) and yards (722). Also caught four touchdowns on the year. Third among tight ends in the NFL with 71 catches and seventh with 722 receiving yards.

Named to USA Today’s All-Joe Team.

Rebounded from ACL injury suffered as a rookie to play and start in all 16 games.

Became only the second Lions non-wide receiver to catch 70 passes in a season, joining FB James Jones (77 in 1984).

Recorded seven receptions, tied for a then career-best, for 108 yards, including a long of 35, against Philadelphia (9/19). It was his first career 100-yard game, and the first by a Lions tight end since TE Marcus Pollard had 105 yards vs. Carolina (10/16/05). Since the era of the modern day tight end (1960).

Led team with eight catches for 75 yards receiving at Dallas (11/21). Became the first Lions tight end since 1960 to record at least eight receptions twice in a single game. The only other tight ends to have eight receptions in a game for the Lions since 1960 are Hall of Fame TE Charlie Sanders (10 at Washington 12/15/68), TE Jim Gibbons (9 at Los Angeles Rams 10/30/60) and TE David Hill (9 vs. Green Bay 10/25/81).

With eight receptions vs. the Cowboys, Pettigrew reached 50 receptions on the season and became only the third Lions tight end since 1960 to register 50 receptions in a season. Pettigrew joined TE David Hill (53 in 1978) and TE Jim Gibbons (51 in 1960) as the only Lions tight ends to record 50 catches in a season since 1960.

Caught five balls for 67 yards against New England (11/25). Caught his fourth pass of the day on the Lions’ third-quarter scoring drive that gave the team a 24-17 lead and moved Pettigrew past TE David Hill (53 in 1978) for the most receptions by a Lions tight end in a single season.

Pettigrew’s five receptions against the Patriots marked the sixth time this season he has caught five passes in a game and the eighth time he has registered at least four catches in a game.

Had three catches for 19-yards in team’s final game vs. Minnesota (1/2). Caught two passes on Lions’ opening drive (18 yards) and became the first tight end in team history to reach 70 receptions in a season.

2009: Started the first 11 games for the Lions, logging 30 catches for 346 yards (11.5 avg.) and two touchdowns before a knee injury ended his season.

Started in a two-tight end set in season opener at New Orleans (9/13).

Was one of four rookie starters in season opener (QB Matthew Stafford, S Louis Delmas and DT Sammie Hill). It was the first time Detroit has had four rookie starters on opening day since 1978 when DB Luther Bradley, DE Al Baker, T William Fifer and G Homer Elias made their starting debut.

Made his first-career catch for 40 yards vs. Minnesota (9/20) and finished the game with four receptions.

Recorded his first-career touchdown on a seven-yard pass from QB Matthew Stafford at Seattle (11/8). Also posted a career-high seven receptions for 70 yards on the day. His seven catches were the most by a Lions tight end since David Sloan registered seven at Arizona November 14, 1999.

Caught the game-winning touchdown pass with no time left on the clock (following defensive pass interference penalty) as he finished with a career-best 73 receiving yards on six catches vs. Cleveland (11/22).

Suffered a season-ending knee injury vs. Green Bay (11/26).

COLLEGEJust the second tight end in Oklahoma State history to hear his name called in the first round of the draft, joining Reuben Gant (1974, Buffalo). Pettigrew ended his collegiate career ranked ninth overall on the school's receiving yardage record list with 1,450 and averaged more than 54 knockdown blocks per season for the Cowboys.

A physical open-field runner who gained more than 40 percent of his yardage after the catch.

Became first tight end in school history to amass more than 100 receptions (112) in a career.

In 2008, he had just 11 receptions through the team's first seven games, but finished with a career-high 42 catches for 472 yards (11.2 avg), despite not finding the end zone. 23 of his receptions produced first downs (54.76%), as he converted 4-of-9 third-down (44.44%) and 1-of-2 fourth-down plays.

All-American Dream Team and All-Big 12 Conference selection by The NFL Draft Report as a senior. Finalist for the John Mackey Award, given to the nation's top tight end.